Mu Jingrui looked down at the magistrate, his red eyes filled with pleading and resentment.
He fully understood the county magistrate's feelings at the moment. However...
"Mr. Magistrate, I have already ordered my men to transport the grain out of the city. I came here just to tell you."
After Mu Jingrui finished speaking, he turned around and walked away, hearing the magistrate's roars and curses behind him.
"Mu Jingrui, you are committing a capital crime by doing this. Since you are unkind, don't blame me for being unjust... I will report this to the court right now..."
The magistrate's angry curses were drowned out by the cold wind. Mu Jingrui walked out of the county government office and mounted his horse.
His men came forward to hold the reins for him, their eyes full of worry.
"General Mu, you really... If the court investigates, it will be very serious. Are you really not afraid of death?"
Mu Jingrui looked at the vast expanse of white in front of him, and a beautiful face and clear eyes appeared in his mind.
Where was Shangguan Wan Ning at this time? She should have woken up, right? After so many years, would she still remember that...
Mu Jingrui sighed silently and said, "When the Crown Prince comes, tell His Highness to find a good home for my sister."
This time, Mu Jingrui was determined to die.
He rode his horse out of the city and felt heartbroken when he saw the victims even stuffing ice and snow into their mouths to fill their stomachs.
The news that Mu Jingrui forcibly opened the government granary to release grain soon spread, and more victims flocked to the county town.
They were all ragged and had dull eyes. In their world, the only important thing left was to fill their stomachs.
On the afternoon of the third day, a team of soldiers rushed in and surrounded Mu Jingrui who was distributing food outside the city.
One of the guards holding the token was furious and shouted, "Mu Jingrui opened the granary without authorization and released grain, ignoring the laws of the court. The prefect has reported this to the Ministry of Justice. Now, arrest Mu Jingrui. If he resists, he will be killed without mercy."
Mu Jingrui had already prepared for this moment to come, but he didn't expect it to come so soon.
Fortunately, the food has been distributed almost completely, and the victims who have received the food can at least survive for seven or eight days.
If Xiao Yujue doesn’t arrive later...there will be nothing he can do.
Mu Jingrui walked forward slowly and with a flick of his wrist, all the people who came to arrest him were ready.
He raised his sword...but his hand loosened and the sword fell into the snow.
It never occurred to him to resist.
"I'll go with you." Mu Jingrui said calmly, "I was the only one who forced the government warehouse to release the grain. It had nothing to do with the others."
"Mu Jingrui, you want to take all the blame, right? Why are you still trying to be a hero? You are dead this time. Come, tie him up and take him away."
Mu Jingrui allowed the officers and soldiers to put shackles on him.
Just as he was about to leave with the soldiers, the people standing on both sides who were receiving food knelt down one after another.
"General Mu, you are our savior, but you yourself... We have no way to repay your kindness."
"Yes, General Mu, I will work like a slave to repay you in my next life."
Mu Jingrui looked indifferent, said nothing, and followed the soldiers away.
He was escorted to the state capital overnight.
Sitting in the prison van, Mu Jingrui recalled the scene when the Mu family was raided.
At that time, he was forced to do so, and even with Shangguan Yue's secret help, he and his sister suffered a lot; this time, it was his own choice, and he hoped that he would not implicate his sister.
Mu Jingrui was thrown into prison, but what greeted him was not the jailer's ridicule or torture.
He was locked up in a solitary cell, and it was obvious that the cell had just been tidied, with a brand new quilt on the bed in the corner and clean hot water on the table.
Mu Jingrui couldn't help but frown.
This kind of treatment does not seem to be what a death row inmate should receive.
Could it be...
Xiao Yujue has arrived?
Mu Jingrui was just thinking about it when the jailer opened the cell door and walked in, holding a tray in his hand. On the tray were four meat buns, two plates of side dishes, a plate of pork and a pot of wine.
"General Mu, please enjoy your meal."
"Wait." Mu Jingrui stopped the jailer and asked, "Who told you to deliver these things?"
"Well..." The jailer lowered his head and smiled without saying anything.
"Speak." Mu Jingrui's voice suddenly turned cold, and the jailer shivered with fear.
"It's me."
A crisp voice was heard and Mu Jingrui was startled.
The jailer took the opportunity to escape.
Mu Jingrui turned around and saw Shangguan Wanning standing outside the cell. His heart tightened, and he quickly stepped forward and whispered, "Didn't I tell you to go back? This is not the place you should be."
"If I don't come, you won't even have a full meal starting today."
Shangguan Wanning was also very angry. She rushed in, picking up her skirt and poking Mu Jingrui's chest with her finger.
"Mu Jingrui, you have become more capable, right? You actually dared to press my acupoints when I was not prepared, and forced me to go home. Who do you think you are? What right do you have to make decisions for me? Have you ever thought about the chaos on the road now, what if something happens to me..."
Shangguan Wanning became more and more upset as she spoke, but the strength in her hands became weaker and weaker.
Looking at her red eyes, Mu Jingrui felt distressed.
He could no longer control his feelings, and he grabbed Shangguan Wanning's arm and pulled her into his arms.
Shangguan struggled hard for a few times but failed to break free. Gradually he gave up resisting and leaned on Mu Jingrui's chest until he gradually calmed down.
After a long time, Mu Jingrui pulled Shangguan Wanning out of his arms, covered her cheek with his broad and warm palms, and chuckled.
"I'm very curious about how you convinced my men to not send you back to the capital, but to send you to the provincial capital instead."
"It's not that difficult." Shangguan Wanning pulled Mu Jingrui's sleeve and wiped her tears and snot. "If I clamored to go back, they would definitely not agree. So, I pretended to be unwell and said I was worried about finding a rural doctor to treat me. They had no choice but to send me to the provincial capital."
"I know that after you forcefully open the granary, the county magistrate will report you to the state government to arrest you. So, I will just wait for you here. I have made some arrangements for you in advance."
Mu Jingrui sighed deeply. "Ning'er, actually... you really shouldn't have looked back."
"Whether I should or not, I have already turned back. Anyway, I will not go back to the capital at this time."
In addition to worrying about Mu Jingrui, Shangguan Wanning was also waiting for Xiao Yujue's arrival.
She knew in her heart that the real disaster was still to come, and the real backup was also still to come.
"I have already written a letter to tell my father about the situation. I think he will plead for you in front of the emperor. As long as the opening of the granary to release grain does not cause serious consequences, you should be fine. As for..."
Shangguan Wanning raised her eyes and smiled slyly. "You will stay in jail for the next few days. This is your punishment for pressing my acupoints."
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